ISL 2024-25: Sunil Chhetri Stars As Bengaluru FC Pip Mohammedan SC 2-1 – News18

Last Updated:November 30, 2024, 11:40 IST

Bengaluru FC came back from behind to beat Mohammedan SC 2-1 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League.

ISL 2024-25: Bengaluru FC beat Mohammedan SC. (X)

Bengaluru FC came back to pip Mohammedan SC 2-1 in the Indian Super League 2024-25 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Sunil Chhetri was the star man off the bench as he converted a penalty and scored a header after Cesar Manzoki’s opener.

Ahead of the match, Mohammedan SC were without a win at home, drawing once and losing thrice. The fact that no team has gone without a win in five home matches had to change.

Andrey Chernashov set his team to be aggressive in retrieving the ball and push forward for an attack at the earliest.

Gerard Zaragoza made wholesale changes on his wings, with the reshuffle prompted by Nikhil Poojari coming back.

In the seventh minute, Carlos Franca was the first man to get a chance. After cutting on from the left, passed it on to Remsanga. His intended pass bounced off Chinglensana and found his way to Franca somehow. He fumbled his first touch and the chance was cleared away. The ball though only went to Mirjalol Kasimov at the edge of the penalty box. His shot though deflected wide off Sana.

The resulting corners though yielded the goal. Cesar Manzoki was left unmarked and crept in at the far post to thunder in his header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

The Spanish tactician used a unique ploy of giving left-back Naorem Roshan Singh free rein to join the attacks, almost acting like a shadow to Jorge Pereyra Diaz at times.

Chernyshov looked the counter the move by letting Mohammed Irshad into the half-space between the attack and mid-field.

There was a call for a penalty when a cutback from Ryan Williams struck Zodingliana’s hand in the closing minute of the half. The referee did not deem it to be the case even as replays confirmed the accretions from the Bengaluru players.

Even though the first 45 was a tense affair with a constant flow of attack and counters, doggy defensive actions from Florent Ogier and Rahul Bheke at either end.

After the restart, Amarjit Singh replaced Lalrinfela with Chernyshov opting for another dogged defensive mid-fielder. There was another call for a penalty when Irshad pushed Alberto Noguera to the ground. The referee again waved play on.

Zaragoza responded by introducing Sunil Chhetri in replace of Mohamed Salah.

The effect was instant. Sunil Chhetri’s free-kick in the 65th minute was acrobatically Bhaskar Roy punched away from making its way into the top left corner.

Two minutes later, a fast break meant Chhetri was through on goal but his left-footed shot from outside the box was saved by the Mohammedan keeper again.

Just before the water break, substitute Alexis Gomez had a golden chance to double Mohammedan’s lead but a diving Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a finger-tip save to keep Bengaluru in the game.

In the 78th minute, Ryan Williams tried his luck from distance, forcing another save from Bhaskar. From the resulting corner, Manzoki was pulled up for the referee for holding on to Pedro. ‘Penalty’ came the decision from the referee.

It was Chhetri who stepped up to score and maintain his record of scoring against all 15 ISL teams so far.

Bhaskar made crucial saves, keeping out Bheke’s and Chhetri’s headers. Gurpreet too was called into action to keep out Manzoki’s header back.

The last few moments saw a frantic end as Alexis and Kasimov were close to getting the winner but it was Bengaluru who scored. Chhetri headed Lalremtluanga Fanai’s past Bhaskar for all three points.

Location :

Kolkata [Calcutta], India